These Days

These days

It’s so difficult to utter a kind word

Let alone holding a forbidden hand

More even to choose a road less traveled

The Queen of people’s heart* is long dead.

*Throughout her life, Princess Diana was very active supporting many charities related to homeless and deprived children, drug abuse, and victims of HIV/AIDS. In 1987, she shocked many people when she publicly shook the hand of an AIDS patient.Recently Prince Harry founded Heads Together which aims to end the stigma surrounding mental health. Source:link 1 &link 2

Princess Diana was such a sweet soul. I LOVE that she held the hands of an AIDS patient. I once worked at a hospital in a small village that admitted an AIDS patient who was refused admission at a larger centre. One day I saw him crying and asked if there was anything I could do. He said he was cold and wanted a blanket and the nurse wouldnt come in his room. I got him the blankets, needless to say, but was appalled at the nurse. I was happy later in the day to see the other nurse, sitting by his bedside holding his hand, they were laughing and talking. Bravo to her kind heart.

Fear, ignorance, prejudice, judgemental attitudes and narrow-mindeness underlie much of social stigma, Sumana. However, lack of compassion and love, I think, is one of the major factors.
Lovely poem and a good response to the theme.